In the Miso Soup

infobox Book |
name = In the Miso Soup
title_orig = イン ザ・ミソスープ
"In za Misosūpu"
translator = Ralph McCarthy


image_caption =
author = Ryu Murakami
cover_artist = Kirk Richard Smith, design, Chas Krider, photographer (US paperback edition)
country = Japan
language = Japanese
series =
genre = Novel
publisher = Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (UK)/Penguin (US)
release_date = 1997
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 192 pp (UK paperback edition), 216 pp (US paperback edition)
isbn = 0-14303-569-X (US)
0-74757-888-5 (UK)
preceded_by = Kyoko
followed_by = Strange Daysnihongo|"In the Miso Soup"|イン ザ・ミソスープ|In za Misosūpu is a novel by Ryu Murakami. It was published in 1997 in Japanese, and in English in 2003.

Plot summary

Twenty year-old Kenji is a Japanese "nightlife" guide for foreigners — he navigates "gaijin" men around the sex clubs and hostess bars of Tokyo. On December 29 he receives a phone call from an American named Frank, who seeks three nights of his services. While Kenji has promised to spend more time with his girlfriend, sixteen year-old Jun, the money is too good to pass up. He finds himself closing out the end of the year accompanying Frank around Shinjuku, wondering if his strange, plastic-skinned patron could be responsible for the gruesome events recently reported in the news.

Analysis

Part of the novel's interest lies in the original perspective offered on Japanese culture. To begin with, the reader is addressed like an outsider - possibly another one of Kenji's foreign clients. Author and narrator, both native Japanese, are then challenged to re-examine the underside of Tokyo city life from an outsider's point of view as it is introduced to the reader, and explained to Frank over the course of the story.

Characters

Major characters

* Kenji: A nightlife guide based in Tokyo. He is an average English speaker who specializes in touring foreigners through Kabuki-cho. As mentioned, Kenji is the narrator of the story.
* Frank: An American tourist who contracts Kenji's services. Frank disturbs Kenji from the outset, and is the antagonist.

Minor characters

* Asami/Madoka: A "special services" hostess at a peep show.
* Jun: Kenji's sixteen year-old girlfriend.
* Maki: Female patron/prostitute at the omiai pub. She claims to not be a prostitute, but also claims to be a high price call girl.
* Noriko: A tout for the omiai pub and former juvenile delinquent.
* Reika & Rie: Two lingerie pub hostesses.
* Satoshi: A lingerie club barker and acquaintance of Kenji's.
* Yokoyama: Publisher of "Tokyo Pink Guide". The only publication Kenji advertises in, and Frank's sex industry bible.
* Yuko: Female patron/prostitute at the omiai pub. She is seated with Frank, Kenji, and Maki.

Murder victims outside the narrative

These characters are mentioned to drive the narrative. They are not seen or interacted with.
* Akiko Takahashi: A seventeen year-old high school sophomore.
* John Doe: A homeless man.

Real people mentioned

There are several musicians discussed by the characters and songs are used in the narrative.
* Namie Amuro: A female Japanese pop star.
* Kenny Burrell: An American jazz guitarist whose career spans from the 1950s to the present.
* Robert DeNiro: An American actor with whom Frank compares himself.
* Seiko Matsuda: A Japanese pop singer/songwriter.
* Wes Montgomery: An American jazz guitarist from the 1950s and 1960s.
* Mr. Children: A Japanese band formed in the late 1980s.
* The Rolling Stones: British rock group which Frank mentions as having had interest in the occult.
* Takako Okamura: A Japanese singer/songwriter [ [http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~bluemt/T_Okamura/index_E.html Takako OKAMURA ] ]
* Yuki Uchida: Actress/model whose pop song is playing at an amusement center.

Potentially real people mentioned

* Danamo Masorueda: According to Frank, a Bulgarian pianist who played with Kenny Burrell. Frank says at one point that his last name is Masorueda. Frank goes on to say Danamo's grandfather was a "sorcerer for a heretical sect called the Bogomils." [p101 of the Penguin US paperback edition.] This is likely one of Frank's stories, as the only mention on Danamo Mosorueda is from "In the Miso Soup".

References